New on DVD: Week of August 25

Julia Roberts may be "gaming" lover/co-conspirator Clive Owen in 'Duplicity,' Jesse Eisenberg works the games in 'Adventureland,' and Channing Tatum indulges in a not-so-friendly game of bloodsport in 'Fighting.' Get the full scoop on this week's DVD releases, plus our recommendations from weeks' past.
'Duplicity'What It's About: In Clive Owen's latest role as a slick globetrotter NOT named James Bond, he and Julia Roberts are corporate spies and part-time lovers either looking to scheme a multibillion dollar company -- or each other. Who's "gaming" who?

It's Kind of Like: 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' meets 'Out of Sight'

What We Say: 'Michael Clayton' director Tony Gilroy crafts another intelligent and satisfying thriller, mostly thanks to the sparks between Owen and Roberts. You have to forgive the film for continually trying to outsmart itself (even when the characters screw up, of course, it's on purpose) and just go along for the ride.

'Fighting'What It's About: Hard up for cash, an Alabama transplant (Channing Tatum) struggling to get by in Manhattan enters the underground world of bare-knuckling brawling under the tutilige of a slick street hustler (Terrence Howard).

It's Kind of Like: 'Fast and the Furious' meets 'Lionheart'

What We Say: Writer-director Dito Montiel follows up the inspired, original, authentic vision of New York 'A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints' with this soulless, formulaic, Hollywood take on NYC. It's decently entertaining, but it's amazingly generic. It also glamorizes brutal violence, yet cuts to black when the sex scene stars. Go figure.

What We Say: Aside from an annoying supporting character who regularly turns up to randomly punch Eisenberg in the privates, this is a charming, witty and lovable follow-up from 'Superbad' director Greg Mottola. Also going for it: a rockin' '80s soundtrack and uncharacteristically charismatic Kristen Stewart. The film also confirms what most of us have long suspected: Amusement park games are all rigged!Add to Netflix queue | Buy the DVD | Watch the trailer

What We Say: It's flawed and indulgent, sure, but it's also one of the most original and compelling superhero movies ever made. Long called "unfilmable" because of its complex mythology and alternate time setting, Snyder pulls it off with style, sticking admirably close to the material. It is recommended you read the graphic novel first, though. Otherwise you might be a little perplexed by the giant "Blue Man Group dude" (Dr. Manhattan, whose back story doesn't come until about 30 minutes in).

What It's About: When her family moves into an old house, the eponymous young girl (voiced by Dakota Fanning) discovers a portal to a parallel universe that at first seems perfect (her parents are more attentive, there's bacon sizzling on the stove, etc), but in truth is far more sinister (everyone has buttons for eyes, for one).

What We Say: The first must-see movie of 2009, this eye-popping whirl through stop-motion animation is a meeting of two brilliant minds (writer Neil Gaiman and director Henry Selick) and remains one of the year's best. Following in the tradition of 'Nightmare' and 'Corpse Bride,' it's a gothic, trippy, oftentimes creepy (see aforementioned buttons for eyes) film that should thrill older kids and adults in equal measure.

What It's About: Joaquin Phoenix is a troubled Brooklyn man who, despite a current residence in his parents house, is blessed/cursed with the difficult decision of choosing between two beautiful women (Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw). And yes, he raps.

What Critics Say: Reviewers showed a lot of love for 'Two Lovers,' with the romantic drama earning an 84 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Hollywood Reporter called it "The best American drama of the year."

What It's About: Having strange memory blockage surrounding his experience in the 1982 Lebanon War, an Israeli Army vet-turned-documentarian (Ari Folman) tracks down several men he served with to fill in the pieces, and then animates the results.

What We Say: Somber and admittedly slow-paced, the film -- an Oscar favorite that lost Best Foreign Film to 'Departures' in one of the 2009 ceremony's only upsets -- is a thought-provoking examination of war and the human psyche's response to it.

What It's About: It's Clive Owen against the world as an Interpol agent who, along with the help of a US assistant district attorney (Naomi Watts), attempts to bring down a arms-dealing, globe-ruling, omnipresent network of villains otherwise known as -- you guessed it? -- bankers.

It's Kind of Like: Clive Owen finally playing James Bond

What We Say: Talk about a topical thriller. Who's not ready to root against bankers right now? Of course here they're not just execs taking fat bonuses while driving the economy into a recession, but murderous corporate thugs bent on global domination. So yes, 'The International' takes a bit of suspension of belief, but it's still a riveting and high-voltage thriller worth the watch.

What It's About: When the Nazis invade town and kill their parents, the Bielski brothers (Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell) escape to the Belarussian forest, where they exact some brief revenge before forming a safe camp for other Jewish escapees.

It's Kind of Like: 'Schindler's List' meets 'The Dirty Dozen'

What We Say: Nobody does war like director Ed Zwick ('Glory,' 'Courage Under Fire,' 'Blood Diamond'). Despite its conventions, 'Defiance' is a powerful and moving epic that deserved more love when it opened last December (the film scored a modest 56 percent approval rating from critics on RottenTomatoes).

What It's About: A New Orleans man (Brad Pitt) who miraculously ages in reverse, growing from naïve elder into relatively normal "middle-aged" period into a senile little boy. Sad as it may be, hey, at least he's got the impossibly handsome looks of Brad Pitt.

It's Kind of Like: 'Forrest Gump' meets 'Cocoon'

What We Say: So long as you don't mind the epic 166-minute runtime (easily the biggest audience knock against 'Button'), this is a fascinating and heartbreaking story done due justice with captivating, eye-catching effects by a brighter-than-ever David Fincher ('Seven').

What It's About:The true story of David Frost (Michael Sheen), a British TV personality who ponied up a cool $600,000 for the exclusive first interview with disgraced ex-president Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) ... and somehow got his money worth.

What We Say: It takes some serious directorial skill to condense 12 days of interviews into two hours of tense and gripping entertainment, but that's exactly what Ron Howard does in crafting this exciting battle of wits. It also helps that Langella's humanizing portrayal of Tricky Dick is phenomenal.

Special Features? The DVD offers a making-of doc, footage from the actual interviews and a feature on additional recordings of the ex-prez (perfect for the Nixon completist).

What It's About: Randy 'The Ram' Robinson (Mickey Rourke), a former pro wrestling sensation, is a shell of his former self. He now lives in a trailer park, wrestles for pennies at local New Jersey holes where using a staple gun (yes, a staple gun) in the ring is perfectly acceptable, and obsesses over a friendly neighborhood stripper (Marisa Tomei).

It's Kind of Like: The anti-'Hogan Knows Best'

What We Say:Darren Aronofsky's superb indie made the most noise for Rourke's triumphant comeback as a gentle giant, but the film itself was one of the year's best: It's a powerful, brutal and grueling yet still inspiring human drama.

What It's About: Just 12 years after his death comes this biopic about legendary rapper The Notorious B.I.G. (Jamal Woolard), aka Biggie Smalls, Big Poppa, Frank White and Christopher Wallace; also appearing are Anthony Mackie as Tupac Shakur and Derek Luke as P. Diddy (aka the man with too many aka's to list).

It's Kind of Like:

What We Say: The fact that Woolard raps over B.I.G. instrumentals is distracting (and we're not as wowed as we should be) but otherwise the actor delivers a strong, confident performance, and the fresh, stylish 'Notorious' builds up to a surprisingly potent peak.